Amusement device



Aug. 4, 1925.

1,548,535 J. G. LYDECKER AnmsEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1923 Sheets-Sheet l Aus- 4, 192s.

1,548,535 J. G. LYDECKER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOI-IN GEORGE LYDECKER, OF NEW YORK, N.

PATENT OFI-ica Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

OF ONE-HALF 'lO EDGAR M. GOLD'SMITH, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMUSEMEN T DEVICE.

Application filed December 12, 1923. Serial No. 680,137.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Gnonon LY. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, and residing at 37 lest 83rd Street, New York city, New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to amuse- Y ment devices and has particular reference to a type of swing which is suspended from a carriage ruiming on toothed tracks, supported on a suitable frame.

The principal purpose ofthe present invention isv to provide a plurality of swings of this character arranged in parallel sets of tracks, suchswings being provided with means for advancing' them yby the motion of the swings themselves. It is intended that competitive races between the swings may be afforded by the use of the particular mechanism employed to advance each swing` independently of the adjacent swing or swings and that the rate of speed attained will depend entirely upon the skill of those operating the swing.

A further object of the invention is to provide means forreversing the direction of travel of the swings when the latter have been advanced to the ends of the toothed tracks. l

The objects of t-he invention have been attained' by the mechanism illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved amusement device having two swings; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carriage supporting the swing at one end, and the means for causing the swing to advance in either one direction or the other; Figure 3 is a plan view of the swing advancing mechanism; and Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes the inverted V-shaped uprights, arranged at the four corners of a supporting frame, and 11 designates the cross bars attached at opposite ends to the peaks of the two uprights at theends ofl the device. Disposed longitudinally of the yframe and arranged in pairs are two sets of angle iron 4pieces 12, which are secured at their ends to the uprights 10, as shown particularly in Figure 1. The inside pieces 12 of each pair are arranged closely7 adjacent and parallel to 'each other, and they are secured or suspended from the cross bars 11 midway thereof. The uprights 10 are supported in upright positions by means of adjustable tie rods 13 which are provided with hooks at opposite ends to be received by suitable eyes arranged in the uprights and ground or base, respectively.

The laterally extending portions of the angle pieces 12 of each pair are disposed towards each other and a toothed rack 14 is mounted on each lateral portion, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. The carriages, which are movable over these racks 14, are identical in construction, so I shall describe in detail only one such carriage.

The carriage comprises a pair of angle plates 15 having their upright walls project-- ing upwardly from the lateral edges of the angle pieces 12 and their lateral portions projecting underneath and parallel to the pieces 12. It will be apparent then that the upright walls of these members 15 are directed towards each other. The upright walls are connected together to provide a carriage by means of a shaft 16 disposed transversely of the tracks. The opposite ends ofthe shaft 16 projects through the upright walls and receive toothed wheels 17, which mesh with and are supported by the toothed racks 14, as illustrated clearly in Figures 2 and 3. In Order not to permit the angle plates 15 to move out of parallel position with respect to the tracks, the lateral flanges thereof are provided with stop pins 18,v adjustably mounted and adapted to be brought .into close proximity to the under surface of the angle bar 12 over which it advances.r The angle plates operating on the inside track are provided with a pair of pivoted dogs 19 which are substantially L shaped and pivoted to the plates at their upper ends. The lower arms of the dogs 19 project parallel tothe shaft 16 and rest in opposite inclined positions upon'the teeth of the rack 14, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, so as to cause the edges of the arms to engage the teeth.

Disposed between the opposite uprightl walls of the members 15 and adjacent thereto are two swing supporting` plates 20 pro` vided with sleeves 21, which loosely embrace the shaft 16. rI'he plates 2O are spaced apart by a sleeve 22 disposed about the shaft 16 and having its ends abutting the faces of the plates themselves. The plate 2O 5. The combination of a toothed track, a carriage adaptedf to operate over said track, a swing supported by said carriage, and means for advancing said carriage in a step by step movement over said track, said carriage comprising a pair of upright angle plates embracing said tracks and having a shaft connected at its ends to the plates, a toothed wheel fixed on opposite ends of the shaft and engaged with the racks, pivoted dogs on opposite sides of one of said wheels and adapted to engage the teeth of said rack in opposite directions, and means for lifting either one or the other of said dogs in the direction in which the carriage is to advance, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a plurality of parallel toothed tracks, a carriage adapted to support a swing running upon each pair of tracks, means carried by the carriages to engage the teeth of said tracks, means carried by the swings to engage the lirst named means to disengage the latter from the track when the swings are operated to a certain height, and means for engaging the second named means to cause the carriage to be advanced in a reverse direction.

7. The combination, as claimed in claim 8, in which said swings comprise cars having upright side Walls, supporting members pivoted at opposite ends in said side walls, and seats carried by said members and adapted to swing relatively of said car to cause the latter to operate.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN GEORGE LYDECKER. 

